Europe has a long and rich history of theatre development, closely linked to the growth of cities and urban conditions. The shape of the theatre and the behaviour of the audience changed over time. Still, the interaction between the city and the stage in most theatres has remained virtually unchanged since the 19^th century. The theatre serves only as a place for performance, catering to a specific audience. This often means the theatre building remains closed to the public for most of the day, opening only a few hours before the performance. Today, there is a desire to make theatre more accessible and an important part of the city's daily public life. 

The site for the new theatre in Delft is in a complex, layered environment. Urban redevelopment of large apartment blocks began in the 1970s but never fully filled the demolished granular urban tissue of the old city. The new theatre bridges the difference in scale between new construction in the west and traditional, undemolished houses in the east by cascading and reducing its height from west to east. By aligning the stage tower to the axis of the existing street, the building creates a new and recognisable landmark for the city. By lifting the main auditorium to the first floor, a big public area is created on the ground floor. This space can be used throughout the day as a public meeting place, for leisure activities, independently from the theatre. 

The result is a big urban gesture solving existing urban problems while also creating valuable indoor public space that can accommodate different events and activities.

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